Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan - U.S. Fish and Wildlife ...

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
At the HFU, hwamei are uncommon but found at highest densities in lower elevation, open-canopy,
midstature forests. The red-billed leiothrix is common, widespread, and occurs at highest densities in
upper-elevation, closed-canopy, high-stature forests. The widespread Japanese white-eye occurs at
highest densities in lower-elevation, open-canopy, mid-stature forests, and heterogeneous vegetation
types. The northern cardinal is uncommon, but fairly widespread, occurring at highest densities in the
lower and uppermost elevation, open-canopy, high-stature forests, and heterogeneous vegetation
types. The house finch is common and occurs at highest densities in grasslands, drier koa-dominated
woodland and forests, and heterogeneous vegetation types. Between 1977-2000, the northern
cardinal and Japanese white-eye were found to have increased in density, while the hwamei, redbilled
leiothrix, and house finch showed no changes in density over the 24-year study period (Camp
et al. 2003, Hawai„i Forest Bird Database 2005).
Table 4-8. Introduced Forest Birds Present at HFU and KFU.
Common name Scientific name
Hakalau
Forest Unit
Kona
Forest Unit
Doves and pigeons Columbiformes
Rock dove Columba livia X
Spotted dove Geopelia striata X X
Zebra dove Streptopelia chinensis X
Owls Strigiformes
Barn owl Tyto alba X X
Passerines Passeriformes
Sky lark Alauda arvensis X X
Japanese bush-warbler Cettia diphone X X
Hwamei Garrulax canorus X X
Red-billed leiothrix Leiothrix lutea X X
Japanese white-eye Zosterops japonicus X X
Northern mockingbird Mimus polyglottos X
Common myna Acridotheres tristis X X
Saffron finch Sicalis flaveola X
Northern cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis X X
House finch Carpodacus mexicanus X X
Yellow-fronted canary Serinus mozambicus X X
House sparrow Passer domesticus X X
African silverbill Lonchura cantans X X
Nutmeg mannikin Lonchura punctulata X X
Java sparrow Padda oryzivora X
Of the introduced bird species, the barn owl, Japanese white-eye, red-billed leiothrix, and various
gallinaceous birds are the species of most concern. Barn owls probably compete with the native pueo
for introduced rats and mice. The Japanese white-eye likely competes for food with native forest
birds such as the common „amakihi (van Riper 1984), Hawai„i „elepaio, and „i„iwi. Introduced forest
birds, especially the Japanese white-eye and red-billed leiothrix, distribute seeds of nonnative plants
such as blackberry, Photenia and English holly at the Refuge and fire tree and banana poka in
Hawai„i‟s natural areas (Mountainspring and Scott 1985). Nonnative birds are also reservoirs for
avian diseases such as malaria and avian pox, though the prevalence of disease in native birds is
4-84 Chapter 4. Refuge Biology and Habitats